§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI wish to ask a Question of which I have given private notice to the First Lord of the Treasury, viz.:—WHat is the exact meaning of the announcement that the King has been advised not to disallow the Labour Ordinance, but that it will not yet be brought into operation; when the restriction will be removed; and when the House will be placed in full possession of the regulations under which the Ordinance will be exercised.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe form of the statement of which the right hon. Gentleman requires an explanation is one which is practically prescribed by statute in this matter. If His Majesty does not disallow an Ordinance, that 999 Ordinance in the natural course becomes law in the colony. The next Question deals with what is not a question of law, but a question of fact. Certain officials have to be appointed and certain arrangements have to be come to with the Chinese Government before the importation of Chinese labour can become an actuality, but so far as the action of the Government is concerned the Ordinance has been allowed.
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANThe right hon. Gentleman has not said when he expects that Parliament will be informed on the matter.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURMy right hon. friend (the Colonial Secretary) informs me that the regulations which will carry out the pledges he has given will be laid before the House very shortly, but I cannot give a similar pledge in regard to the regulations as a whole.
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANMay I ask whether, in view of the strong feeling in the country, the Government will reconsider their decision to withhold from Parliament the opportunity of discussing the regulations before the Ordinance comes into operation?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURIf the discussion to which the right hon. Gentleman refers is one relating to the principle on which the Government have acted in permitting Chinese labour to be used in the Transvaal, I think his request is a strange one, for, unless I am greatly mistaken, there have been two discussions upon the subject in another place, there were discussions in relation to it in the debate on the Address, and not less than two divisions have already been taken.
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANMy point is that the discussions took place without any knowledge on our part as to what the regulations would be.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI am glad to hear that the objection of the right hon. Gentleman and his friends is only in a small degree directed to the principle, and deals chiefly with details; but my right hon. friend informs me that all the 1000 regulations involving the question of principle either have been, or will be very shortly, laid before the House, and the House has been fully informed of their character.